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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

/ J. MITCHELL.

TRICYOLE.

Patented Dec. 23, 1890.

(No ModeL) v '2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. MITCHELL. TRIGYGLE No. 443,292. Patented Dec. 23, 1890.

WITNESSES:

the other parts.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOSEPH MITCHELL, OF CHADDS FORD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO LOUIS H. HOOPES, OF SAME PLACE.

TRICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,292, dated December 23, 1890.

Application filed September 9, 1890. Serial No. 364,448- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH MITCHELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ch adds Ford, in the county of Delaware, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tricycles, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in tricycles; and it consists, first, of a tricycle or other velocipede having a swinging seat the oscillation of which operates mechanism connected therewith for rotating the running wheels; second, of mechanism,substantially as described, for rotating the running wheels; third, of means, substantially as described, connected with the operating mechanism of the running wheelsfor alternately disengaging and engaging the racks of the reciprocating rods thereof with the axle of the said running wheels, and, fourth, of the combination of parts hereinafter set forth.

Figure 1 represents a side view of a part of a tricycle embodying the features of my invention, one of the wheels and a portion of the frame being removed to more clearly show Fig. 2 represents a rear view of the tricycle shown in Fig.1. Fig. 3 represents a plan view of the guiding-arms and a portion of the operatin -arms of the device. Fig. t represents a vertical sectional view of a part of the device, showing the means for limiting the movement of an operating arm. Fig. 5 represents an enlarged view of one of the outer ends of the rod, which is rigidly connected with the oscillating shaft in the upper part of the frame of the machine. Fig. 6 represents a partly side and partly sectional view of a wheel, showing the spoke-connections with the hub, rim, and tire.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a tricycle having the running wheels 13 mounted on the axle O and provided with a steeringwheel D.

The frame E of the machine has a base or reach F, to which is pivotally secured at its front end a forked piece G, in which is j ournaled the axle of the steering-wheel D, and

to the upper end of which is secured the steering-arm H. 4

J designates an car on the boss K of the piece G, the same furnishing a bearing for a stationary shaft L, on which are mounted sleeves M,with which are connected the arms N, the latter being provided with the handles P. The movement of the said arms is limited by means of pins Q, secured to the shaft L, and freely projecting into slots R of the sleeves.

On the axle C and near the wheel B are loosely mounted the standards S of the frame, the said standards, which are forwardly inclined, having in their upper ends bearings for a rock-shaft T. Secured to the boss K is the front or lower end of the backbone or reach V of the frame, the rear forked end thereof being loosely mounted 011 the shaft T near the upper ends of the standards S.

torsional strain upon the shaft T, caused by the swinging of the seat and its connected arms, is notlimited to one part of the shaft, but is distributed over the same. One set of the arms W and Y are in advance of the other at the seat portion thereof a distance corresponding to the distance of the inner end of one of the arms N in front of the inner end of the other arm N, so that the occupant of each seat is at an equal distance from the handle of the arm which he bears or pushes 0 against. A foot-rest A is secured to the lower end of each of the frames which carries a seat.

On the axle C is rigidly mounted a gearwheel B, and to the ends of the cross-armX I of the shaft T are secured alternately-reciprocating rods 0 D, which have racks or toothed portions E F meshing with said gearwheel B so as to rotate the same, and thereby the running wheels B of the device.

The said arms XV and Y are near their 75 insure the proper engagementanddisengagetoothed cam or eccentric it, which, workment of tlte said racks, respectively, so that the axle C will be rotated in the same direc tion by the continuous oscillation of the shaft T and arm X, the following described mechanism is employed. In connection with the rods (1 D, which are inclined, the additional inclined rods G and ll, respectively, are used. The upper end of each rod of the pairs of rods C G and D ll is divided and has a free bearing on one of two detachable oscillating blocks J, which blocks are cured in recessed portions of the ends of the cross-arm X, by means of'screws K, which operate in the ears K of the cross-arm.

On the back of each of the rods L" l) are the projections L, and on the adjacent faces of the rods G ll are the projections M, which latter are adapted to rest on or against the said projections L at each alternate movement of each of the rods, so that the racks are kept in engagement or mesh with the gear-wheel B at such moven'lent. Attached to the frame E of the machine are the arms N, which are provided with cushions or buffers P, against which the lower ends of the rods G and ll strike at the end of their downward movement. A roller Q, mounted 011 the frame, serves to keep the raclerod of each pair of rods in contact with the gearwheel B when the projections M are on the projections L, and a toothed cam or eccentric R, pivoted to the frame and meshing with a toothed portion of the red C, serves to disengage the rack E of said rod 0 from engagement with the gear-wheel 13 when the said rod is descending.

A guard S, secured to the frame of the machine, serves to shield the gear-wheel 13 from contact with the clothes of the occupants of the seats Z.

To the base F of the frame are attached hangers carrying the pins T to assist the riders in getting on or off the machine. A brake U, consisting of a pivoted arm'Y, earrying a rubber roller for contact with the gearwheel 13, is kept normally from operation by a spring W. To operate the steering-arm ll, the chains X are secured to its ends and to pivoted levers Y on one of the arms N.

The operation of the device is as follows: A party or parties on either or both of the seats Z, by hearing against a handle on one of the arms N, will cause the seats to be swung backward, so that the frames thereof will rock the shaft T, thus oscillating the cross arm X, lowering the front end thereof and raising the rear end. By raising the said rear end the rods D ll are lifted so that the rack F of the rod 1), which is in engage ment with the gear-wheel l3, owing to the p to jections M being on the projections L, will rotate the said wheel, thereby advanein g the tricycle. At the same time the rack E of the descending rod C is out of engagement with the gear-wheel l3, owing to the action of the ing with the rod 0, has lifted the same from elf the gear-wheel l, the inclined faces of the projections L M and the oscillating bearing block J readily permitting the movement of the rods 0 and G on the other, so that the projections M are no longer on the projections U, thereby allowing the closer approach to each other of the said rods. When the seat reaches the end of its backward movement and the rod G is at the end of its downward stroke, the lower end thereof abuts against a cushion I, so that the projections M. will ride on the projections L, and thus bring the rack E of the rod G into engagement with the gCttiFWllGOl B, so that on the upward movement of the said rods 0 G the wheel B will be rotated in the same direction as it was when engaged by the rack F of the rod D, thereby farther advancing the tricycle. When the rack F in its ascent has risen so as to be out of engagement with the gear-wheel B, the rod G is no longer held by the said wheel and the roller Q in close contact with the rod D, and being formed of greater weight than the rod D and bearing on the opposite side of the center of the block J from the said rod D it will oscillate the block J so as to descend, thus raising the rod 1) so that the projections N no longer bear against the projections L, but pass below the same, thus pern'iitting the rack E of the rod D to fall away from engagement with the gear-wheel B, so that on the descent of the rods D ll on the forward movement of the seats the said rack E will not be in contact with the said gear-wheel. As the rod 1 l reaches the end of: its downward stroke it is stopped by a cushion I, and the projections )IQ and L of the said rods are again brought into engagement, so that the rack E and gearwheel 13 are meshed for the upward movement of the rod D. It will be seen that the racks of the rods C and D are alternately meshed with the gearwheel 13, thus continuously rotating the same.

In Fig. 6 the spokes are shown as secured to the rim and hub of a wheel by inserting one end of a spoke Z into a countersunk openin A in the tire I and then into a hollow hub C and securing it by nuts D E the other end of the spoke, which is provided with a head 1, resting in the countersunk opening of the tire.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is-

1. In a velocipede, the continuation of an axle having a gear-wheel secured thereon, a frame with a rock-shaft having a eross-arm, rods pivoted to said arm and provided with racks meshing with said gear-wheel, and aswinging seat, substantially as described, for oscillating said rock-shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a velocipede, the combination of a re- ITO tary axle having a gear-wheel sccu red thereon, alternately rising and falling rods with racks engaging said gear-wheel, and a swinging seat and connections, substantially as described,for operating said rods, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of a swinging seat, a rotary axle having a gear-wheel secured thereon, alternately rising and falling rods provided with racks, and mechanism, substan-.

tially as described, for disengaging each of said racks from the gear-wheel on each alternate movement and engaging it with the said gear-wheel on-its return movement, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of a rock-shaft having a cross-arm extending therefrom, an arm depending from said shaft, an arm depending from said cross-arm, and a seat supported by said depending arms, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of a frame, a rock-shaft journaled therein, a swinging seat for operat-ing said shaft, a cross-arm secured to said shaft, a rotary axle with a gear-wheel secured thereon, rods connected with said cross-arm and having racks adapted to mesh with said gear-wheel during a portion of their movement, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination of a frame, a rock-shaft mounted therein, a swinging seat for operating said shaft, a cross-arm secured to said shaft, a rotary axle with a gear-wheel secured thereon, and rods connected .with the ends of said cross-rods and each having a rack adapted alternately to mesh with said gear-wheel, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

'7. The combination of a frame, a pivoted arm, a shaft, a seat connected with said shaft and adapted to rock or oscillate the same, arms pivotally connected with a cross-arm of the shaft and provided with racks, and a rotary axle with a gear-wheel thereon, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination of a rotary axle having a gear-wheel secured thereon, a reciprocating rod having on its face a rack engaging said wheel, and on its back projections a second rod adapted to move with and on said first rod and provided with projections adapted to contact with the projections on the first rod, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination of arot-ary axle having a gear-wheel secured thereon, a frame with a rock-shaft j ournaled therein, a cross-arm connected with said rock-shaft, mechanism, substantially as described, connected with said rock-shaft for oscillating the same, oscillating blocks in said cross-arm, rods having divided upper ends bearing on said blocks and provided with racks, a rotary axle having a gear-wheel secured thereon, and mechanism, substantially as described, including said oscillating blocks, for disengaging said racks from said gear-wheel, substantially as described.

10. The combination of a frame, a rockshaft with cross-arm, a rotary axle with a gear-wheel secured thereon, a rod with divided upper end and provided with a rack on its face adapted to engage with said gearwheel, and projections on its back, an oscillating block in the cross-arm, a second rod with a divided upper end and having projections adapted to contact with the projections of the other rod, and a roller between which and the gear-wheel the two rods are adapted to reciprocate, substantially as described.

11. The combination of a frame, a rockshaft with cross-arm, an oscillating block in said cross-arm, a rotary axle with a gear-wheel secured thereon, two sets of reciprocating rods pivotally bearing on said blocks at their upper ends, one of each set having a rack on its face adapted to mesh with the said gearwheel, and on itsback provided with projections each having an inclined side, and the other rod of the set which extends below the rock-rod having projections adapted to contact with the projection of the said rock-rod, a roller, and a cushion or buffer, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a velocipede, the combination of a frame, an arm having a tubular end with a slot therein, a stationary shaft on which said tubular end is mounted, and a pin secured to the shaft and in the slot, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

13. In a velocipede, the combination of a frame, a rotary axle with a gear-wheel secured thereon, and a spring-controlled arm pivoted to the frame and having a roller connected therewith and adapted to engage said gearwheel, substantially as described.

1%. In a velocipede, a frame formed of a base portion with rotary axle j ournaled therein, two inclined standards having a rock-shaft journaled in their upper ends, and a backbone or reach connected with the front of the base portion and having a forked upper portion loosely connected with the rock-shaft, said parts being combined substantially as described.

15. The combination of a frame, two swinging seats connected with a rock-shaft jour naled in said frame, and two pivoted handles, one of said seats and handles being on the side and in advance of the other seat and handle, substantially as described.

16. In a velocipede, a frame, a steeringwheel, a bearing-piece for the shaft thereof, steering-arms secured to said piece, an arm secured to the frame and provided with pivoted levers, and means, substantially as described, connecting said levers and the steercrossarm, an oscillating block in said cross: arm, a rod having a rack on its face and projections on its back, a second rod with projections adapted to contact with the projections on the first-mentioned rod, and a roller against which said second rod bears, the projections of both rods having inclined contactsides and the said rods being supported on the said oscillating block, said part-s being combined substantially as described.

JOSEPH MITCHELL. Vitncsses: JoHN A. WIEDERSHEUL A. 1". JENNINGS. 

